Don't be fooled by the title. This is one of the best sci-fi/horror films to come out of the 50s- rivaling 1956's "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers" as the best, in my opinion.
Scott Carey and his wife are out enjoying their cabin cruiser one day at sea. While his wife is momentarily below deck, the small craft passes through a mysterious mist. Scott is left covered by a strange, glitter-like substance, which eventually disappears. All seems fine, until a few days later when Scott is accidentally sprayed with an insecticide. Then, he incredibly begins to realize that his entire body actually seems to be shrinking.
"The Incredible Shrinking Man" is an amazingly thought-out movie, and the stunning special effects (for the time) enhance the story greatly. It also doesn't hurt the fact that it's based on such a well-written story to begin with, and the fact that the author himself adapted the screenplay. It's not just a bunch of lines delivered with the usual b-movie schlock. As fantastic as the special effects were for the time, the film is actually just as much a character study. Grant Williams does a fine job with Scott Carey- it's fascinating to watch him become more and more resourceful in a desperate attempt to save his life and to deal with ordinary, everyday objects (spiders, the cat, etc.) that are now much more dangerous. On top of the repercussions his new fate has on his marriage. Up until then, there had simply not been a film to deal with the psychology of the over-the-top and fantastic situations portrayed in the movie. It's just a well-done flick all around. If you want to see a perfect example of 50s sci-fi/horror, check out "The Incredible Shrinking Man" now!
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